Rotorua half-marathon could me moved off-road

Rotorua's half-marathon may be going off-road in future.

Race organisers are considering running the annual event in Whakarewarewa Forest to avoid passing on the rising costs of traffic management plans to participants.

"To ensure the safety and protection of participants and the public, every event requires a traffic management plan be put in place," race director and president of Lake City Athletics Club Laurie McGregor said.

"In the past we have organised this ourselves but new legislation means that we have to employ people with the right expertise to do this on our behalf and that costs money."

McGregor said the club had paid $1800 to New Zealand Traffic Management to provide safe and efficient operation on the roads surrounding the base of Mt Ngongotaha at last Sunday's event.

He said the costs for such expertise were likely to rise every year, causing a burden on the club that also uses the event as an annual fundraiser.

"Our main concern is for the safety of our competitors, but in addition we want to provide them with a memorable event.

"If the costs for traffic management plans rise then this cost will be passed on to the competitors and we don't want to do that, which is why we are considering all our options -- including moving the event next year to the forest."

- NZPA